Hungry Lion Lakeside Mall (Benoni)

HUNGRY LION!! My brother asked me months ago whether I had heard of HL before. I hadn't at that stage. He told me that a friend of his in the Cape RAVED about HL, swearing that he would never set foot in a KFC again. Not only are the prices a fraction of KFC's, but the food is tastier, and the portions far more generous.

Imagine our surprise when we exit the Lakeside Mall, Benoni earlier today, only to notice: You guessed it - A Hungry Lion restaurant! FINALLY we could experience what the hype was all about!

We wait in the queue and strike up conversation with other patrons, asking them whether they are regulars, and how it compares to KFC? We hear that the food was really good. This adds to our anticipation of getting the full Hungry Lion experience.

My brother orders 4x Double Munch burgers (burgers only). The lady who took the order asks him whether he would like plain or spicy. He asks for 1x spicy, and 3x plain. He pays and I notice a large frown on his face.

I start of by ordering "one of the same that my brother ordered". Same question: spicy or plain - I ask for hot as hell. Then I notice the Double Big Boss burger, and order one so we could have a side by side comparison later.

At this stage I get curious about the chicken pieces, but only see combo's on the menu. I ask the cashier whether they only sell the chicken pieces in combo's, whereupon she replies yes. (HL Lakeside, I really hope you have cameras with audio, to verify what I'm sharing here). I ask for the 4 piece combo (R79.00 on the menu) to be added to my order.

Around this time my brother says "I bet you she stuffed up my order!" He looks at his slip, and points towards the R70.00 total. The Double Munch burgers are R34.90 each, yet the slip shows 4x Munch Burgers R70.00 - Yeah, clearly some mess up with the order. I tell him to speak up, but he declines stating that he does not want to make a scene. Yeah, we were not brought up the type to complain about everything and ask to speak to a manager.

Then we see one of the specials on the display screen show a 4x Munch burger special @R70.00 - remember the part where I ordered "one of the same that he ordered"? We look at my slip and my 1st item is a Double Munch burger charged at R34.90 - bizarre right?

The 2nd item is also exactly what I ordered. But what do we have here? Item no 3 is now a 1x4 piece @R84.90! That's R5.90 more than what I ordered, and minus the chips? Again my brother asks me not to make a scene, and reminds me of what is likely to happen to our order in the back - out of view.

We wait for a very long time. Other patrons in the store starts ousting their dissatisfaction in their simple orders taking an absurdly long time. Others start complaining about incorrect orders, and it is around this time that the cashier is noticeably rattled.

She opened, inspected, closed and put back on the heating shelf, the exact same two packages no less than 10 times each! I point out to my brother that I'm pretty sure that the white paper wrapped burgers laying right there on the heating rack was surely his order, and that it had been laying there for at least 10min already. More people are now getting worked up because of the delay.

Maybe 5 minutes later she grabs 3 of the 4 of those burgers, and calls his number (3576). He politely points to his slip stating 4 burgers, she grabs the 4th, and shoves it in the bag. He thanks her and leaves. I receive my order (3577) and ask her how it is possible that I ordered "1 of the same that he just ordered" and got the correct order when he got something completely different? She started denying that this was what he ordered, and that she gave him what he ordered. I also asked about the 4 piece chicken debacle, she could not answer. I also asked her whether she is new, as that would be a possible explanation, to which she clearly took offence and became exceptionally nude. I cautioned the other patrons in the store to check their slips and their orders, and left the store very likely never to return. I know my couple of rand order might not make a difference to them, but if this trend continues people will start spending their money elsewhere. As one gentleman stated, yes KFC is more expensive but at least I know what I'm paying for and what I'll get.

We heard from other patrons how this is the norm here, VERY long waiting times, and a gamble as you never quite know what you will eventually receive. Another lady just rep**** "Eish that lady is always a problem."

Getting home my brother ended up with 4 spicy burgers and a bitter taste in his mouth.

Time on till slip 17:28 - Time when very basic order is handed over 18:02 The food really is surprisingly tasty, but just simply not worth the frustration!

Food: 4 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 1